Russia sees Indonesia's accession to BRICS as move enhancing organization's influence

MOSCOW. Jan 9 (Interfax) - Russia welcomes Indonesia's accession to the BRICS association, which should enhance its global influence, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"The Russian Federation welcomes the Republic of Indonesia's accession to BRICS as a full member starting January 1, 2025," the ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

"Indonesia's accession to BRICS will help further bolster the association's influence and foster consistent consolidation of the Global South and East with the aim of forming a more just and balanced multipolar world order," it said.

Indonesia's candidacy was proposed and tentatively approved during the "first wave" of BRICS expansion at the summit in Johannesburg in South Africa in 2023, the ministry said. However, in light of a presidential election held in Indonesia in 2024, "our Indonesian partners decided to postpone Jakarta's official application before a new head of state took office and a government was appointed," it said.

Jakarta later filed an official application with BRICS in 2024, when Russia held presidency in it, and the bid enjoyed consensus-based support from all member states, it said.

Brazil, which currently holds BRICS presidency, announced earlier that Indonesia joined the association as a full member.

"In the context of Brazil's pro tempore presidency of BRICS [...], the Brazilian government announced today, January 6th, the formal entry of the Republic of Indonesia into BRICS as a full member," the Brazilian government said in a statement on its website on January 6.